Lee's Summit

Lee's Summit is a city in Missouri. It is the hometown of famous outlaw Cole Younger of the James-Younger Gang, and of Grammy Award-winning musician Pat Metheny.

Understand

Lee's Summit can provide a family-friendly vacation, and let you get away from the hustle of Kansas City. You come here to see historic towns, have great shopping, fish, go boating, and slow your world down. Lee's Summit covers a large area, so renting a car or driving here are the easiest ways of getting around and getting out. Lee's Summit is a place you really have to experience. When you're here, you can't help but smile!

From LS's location in the midwest it is probably fall that is the best time. With great weather. Several local festivals. Less crowded stores, restaurants, and attractions. And best of all, there is peace and quiet here on weekdays. Spring and summer are still great times to visit themselves, but avoid winter here if you can. They are cold and snowy.

Get in

By plane
  • Lee's Summit Municipal Airport, 2751 NE Douglas St, +1 816 969-1186, It serves just private jets. It is being expanded to bring some Air Link flights to town.
  • Kansas City International, 601 Brasilia Ave, Kansas City. About 40 min north of the city (U.S. 71 is the quickest way to get there), KCI has domestic and international flights.

By train

The town is served by Amtrak with the daily Missouri River Runner, connecting Kansas City with St Louis. 🌍 Lee's Summit station is at 220 SW Main St.

By car
  • Interstate 70, runs just north of town, it has an exit onto I-470 south into town.
  • Interstate 470, from the west and north.
  • U.S. Route 40, from east to west (runs parallel with I-70 through most of Missouri).
  • U.S. Route 50, from east and west.
  • U.S. Route 71, runs north and south just west of town, it does have an exit on MO-150, MO-291, & I-470 to take you into town.
  • Missouri State Highway 7, runs north and south east of town. It does jct. with U.S. 50.
  • Missouri State Highway 150, runs east and west in south part of town.
  • Missouri State Highway 291, south and picks a mile east going north.
  • Missouri State Highway 350, connector with Interstates 435 and 470.

Get around

Again, the best way to get around is by car. So, the major roads in the city are as follows: Chipman Rd, 3rd St, Blue Pkwy, Oldham Pkwy, Douglas St, Colbern Rd, Ward Rd, Todd George Rd, Woods Chapel Rd, They take you to most places you would visit.

Car rental
  • Enterprise, 1025 SW Blue Pkwy, +1 816 736-8222

Taxi service
  • LS Taxi, 1605 SE Willow Rd (at the corner of 16th St), +1 816 246-8246, local taxi available for use. Call ahead to schedule your time of pick-up, drop-off, and locations your traveling to.

Bus
  • Metro Bus Service Bus #252 (Lee's Summit MetroFlex),
  • Metro Bus Service Bus #152 (Lee's Summit/Raytown Express), (same link as above).

See

Old Time Charm
  • 🌍 Historic Downtown Lee's Summit. Roughly bounded by 2nd, Green, 4th, and Douglas Streets. A vibrant mix of shops, restaurants, and midwestern flair, Downtown Lee's Summit is an important place to the locals. The original downtown burned down in 1880 and what you now see was constructed and completed by 1889. Two National Historic Districts are in the area. So see what downtown has to offer! 
  • 🌍 Historic Train Depot, 220 SE Main St. After the first two depots burned down, the current structure was built between 1903 and 1905. It now houses the Historical Society Museum which has displays on the railroad. 
  • 🌍 Lee's Summit Historical Cemetery, 806 SE 3rd St, ☏ +1 816 969-7403. The final resting place of Cole, Robert, Jim, & Bursheba (the brother's mother) Younger, several of Quantrell's raiders, and prominent early citizens of the town. The self-guided walking tour is a great way to learn about these people and their role in Lee's Summit history. 
  • 🌍 Longview Farm, 3361 SW Longview Rd, ☏ +1 816 761-6669. Built between 1913 and 1915, it was called the "World's Most Beautiful Farm". 17 of its remaining buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are available on request. 
  • St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 416 SE Grand, ☏ +1 816 524-3651. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, its famous red doors have welcomed guests and regulars since 1884. 
  • 🌍 Harry S. Truman Farm Home National Historic Site, 12301 Blue Ridge Blvd. Tours from 9:30AM to 4PM. In nearby Grandview (west of US 71), the home is fascinating to learn about for presidential history buffs. The home does have a skunk smell problem inside. 

History and museums

Lakes

Beaches are open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

  • Longview Lake, ☏ +1 816 767-0727. Beach- 111101 Raytown Rd, Marina- 9898 Longview Rd. The most popular of the Lee's Summit public lakes, Longview is located next to the college, Ferd Arbanas golf course, and longview mansion. 
  • Lake Jacomo, ☏ +1 816 795-8888. Marina- 7401 West Park Rd, the largest and most beautiful of the lakes (it's nestled in the woods), Lake Jacomo offers up a fisherman's dream. It's in the south end of Fleming Park. 
  • Blue Springs Lake, ☏ +1 816 795-0822. Beach- 1500 NE Bowlin Rd, Marina, next to beach. The most popular with power boaters and water skiers, Blue Springs is in Fleming Park, just north of Jacomo. 
  • Prairie Lea Lake, ☏ +1 816 795-8200. The smallest of the public lakes has two parks on it, South PL (on Scruggs Rd between Todd George and Blackwell Pkwys) is the larger and North PL (on Colbern Rd opposite Lake Jacomo) is the smaller. They feature picnic areas, boat ramps, and are the quietest public lake parks. 

Beauty and nature
  • Fleming Park. 2 miles east of I-470 on Woods Chapel Rd, Fleming is the most stellar of the parks in Lee's Summit. It features Blue Springs Lake, Lake Jacomo, Missouri Town, the Wild Buffalo Reserve, and Jim Bridger Conservation Area. 
  • Longview Lake Park, 470 exits Raytown Rd (I-and View High Dr.). The main attraction here is Longview Lake which is operated by the US Core of Engineers. It houses "Christmas in the Park" every December. 
  • Blue and Gray Park, Bucker-Tarsney Rd (7 miles south of I-70 and 1 1/2 miles north of US 50). The host of HOAC Boy Scout Camporee every October is renowned for its horse-riding trails and cross country skiing. 
  • Powell Gardens, 1609 NW US 50, Kingsville (20 miles east of LS). The region's botanical garden was once a dairy farm and Boy Scout camp. With seasonal displays and hours, the website is the best way to keep up to date with what you want to see. 
  • Unity Village (MO-350 & Colbern Rd). Tours M-Th 9AM-4PM, F-Su 10AM-1PM. These are self-guided, guided tours must booked in advance by calling +1 816 251-3578. Unity Village is the headquarters of Unity, a religious organization. It features a school, hotel, motel, forested grounds, a nine-hole golf course, a restaurant, Filmore Chapel, and beautiful Mediterranean-style buildings. The majority of it was built in 1889. 
  • James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area, 13101 SE Ranson Rd (1½ miles south of US 50), ☏ +1 816 622-0900. Forests, grassland, wetlands, prairie, lakes, fishing, and archery are just a few reasons to visit James Reed. 
  • Jim Bridger Urban Conservation Area, ☏ +1 816 622-0900. Great deer hunting and forest hiking make this enjoyable. Near Lake Jacomo. 
  • Lone Jack Conservation Area, ☏ +1 816 622-0900. 
  • Kemper Outdoor Educational Center, 8201 Jasper Bell, ☏ +1 816 229-8980. An outdoor paradise with reptiles, rock & fossil displays, nature hikes, wildlife exhibits, and a gift shop. There's a lot to do here. 
  • Savanhland Educational Park, Pleasant Hill. Over 200 exotic animals and critters are here for you to learn about. Included: zebras, monkeys, kangaroos, & chimps. Open on the fourth Saturday of each month to the public, noon to 4PM. 
  • Native Hooved Animal Enclosure, Lake Jacomo. The big draw being the wild buffalo (bring some carrots to feed them!), but other interesting animals lurk here too, like Elk and Deer. It's near to MO-7 and Lake Jacomo/Missouri Town. 

The arts
  • Art Detour. Downtown gets spruced up changing artists works scattered around. Also at Longview College. 
  • Lee's Summit Symphony. Performances are housed at LS High School's PA Center. For tickets visit their website. 
  • Summit Art. Summit Art is a charitable organization whose mission is to encourage and promote the visual arts, multi-cultural art education and humanities throughout the Lee's Summit and regional surrounding communities. 
  • All three local high schools, and MCC-Longview, have their own theatre seasons where they perform plays and musicals several times a year.

To keep up to date on public art displays, check out the Lee's Summit Art Council website.

Do

Golf

Winery

Events and festivals
  • Friday Night Music in the Park, ☏ +1 816 246-6598. May–August. 
  • Third Thursdays on Third. Monthly. 

March

April
  • Opening of Longview, Blue Springs, and Jacomo Campgrounds, ☏ +1 816 503-4805. 

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Learn
  • Longview Community College, 500 SW Longview Rd, ☏ +1 816 672-2050. The first U.S. Community College to win Time Magazine's "College of the Year" Award, Longview (located on Longview farm and lake) has a wide variety of classes & programs. It houses a new performing arts center and the Frank White Jr. Baseball Complex. 
  • University of Central Missouri-Summit Campus , NE Corner of Chipman Rd & Blue Pkwy, This award-winning school's first campus outside of Warrensburg, Summit Center offers flexible city hours in a state-of-the-art facility.
  • Baker University-Lee's Summit, 1278 NE Windsor Dr., ☏ +1 816 347-0559. 
  • Unity Institute, at Unity Village, With several classes to promote your understanding within, the Unity Institute is a peaceful to sit and study an afternoon away.

Buy
  • Summit Fair. SE corner of US 50 and I-470, 
  • Bass Pro Shops, 18001 Bass Pro Dr, ☏ +1 816 795-4300. 
  • Cockrell Mercantile Company, 30003 East Old US 50 Hwy, ☏ +1 816 697-1923. With 6 stores in one, this place is more of a village. You can shop for foods, garden goods, kitchen ware, bakeware, party goods, and home decor. Don't forget your cup of coffee. An old-fashioned country store that's 115 years old. 
  • Downtown Lee's Summit. Roughly bounded by 2nd, Green, 4th, & Douglas St. This is the most popular shopping district in LS. A little bit of new and old mix together to make the perfect midwestern commerce center. 
  • SummitWoods Crossing. NW corner of Chipman Rd & US 50, The newest urban shopping center to grace LS is SummitWoods. You can't miss it on your way in, it's right where I-470 & US 50 junction. 
  • Independence Center Mall, SE corner of 39 St & I-70, Independence (at I-470 & I-70 junction). With over 130 specialty & department stores, it is the largest shopping center in the region. 
  • New Longview, SE corner of Longview Rd & View High Dr. (at Longview Farm). A great neighborhood shopping area. 
  • 150 Hwy (between 291 & Ward Rd). Up & coming with new development everywhere, 150 Hwy in south LS is getting busy and will have many local & national stores and restaurants on it. 
  • 291 North (between US 50 & I-470 at Longview Farm). Local and national restaurants and stores. 
  • I-470 and Douglas St. (between I-470 & Tudor Rd). With a movie theater, restaurants, and several business. 
  • Lee's Summit Farmer's Market, 2nd & Douglas St.. Every Wednesday & Saturday from 7AM to sell out, Every Mid-April thru November, the LS Farmer's Market sponsors locally grown fruits and vegetables. 
  • Greenwood, SE of city core on MO-150. An antique lovers' dream is shopping Greenwood with 5 in a single block. 
  • Brooke Corbin, 615 SW 2nd St. 

Eat
This page uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
BudgetUnder $14
Mid-range$14-22
SplurgeOver $22

All Lee's Summit bars and restaurants are completely non-smoking.

Hometown (budget)

Mid-range

Splurge

Drink

Nightlife

Sleep

Hotels and motels

Nearby

Campgrounds

Connect

Stay safe

Lee's Summit is one of the safest cities in America, which is a big reason it was ranked the 27th Best Place to Live by CNN/Money Magazine. If you need assistance though call:

  • Fire Department, Non-Emergency - +1 816 969-7407,
  • Police, Non-Emergency - +1 816 969-1700,
  • Emergency, 911

Stay healthy

Hospitals

Go next

Close by
  • Belton, US 71 South of LS, A city with its own vital downtown strip, Belton also features a historic rail and city museum.
  • Blue Springs, MO-7 or I-70 East of LS, The big things in Blue Springs are forests. The main features being Burr Oak Woods State Forest and Landahl Park , both of which are well worth visiting.
  • Harrisonville , MO-291 South of LS, The old courthouse square and an 1835 log cabin are the big stars of Cass County's seat. Recommended to enjoy.
  • Independence, I-470 North of LS, Hometown of the westward expansion and former President Truman, Independence is a must see! Several attractions about the 3 "great trails" and Truman are here, as well as Mormon historic sites. Plus it's the county seat of Jackson so the Courthouse Square is a great place to start.
  • Liberty, I-470/MO-291 North of LS, The county seat of Clay County is talked about worldwide for being the site of the first daylight bank robbery, by the James-Younger Gang in 1866, but it's famous William Jewell College and 3 local museums make it an interesting place to visit. A must see is Historic Downtown Liberty , you have to visit it!
  • Lone Jack, US 50 or MO-150 East of LS, Home to the Battle of Lone Jack and Bynum Winery, Lone Jack is the perfect sleepy small town to visit.
  • Martin City, MO-150 & Holmes Rd West of LS, Some of the best restaurants in the area are in Martin City like, Jess & Jim's, RC's Chicken, and Jack Stack's Barbeque. Plus you can shop till you drop for everything you can dream about. Let's not forget the baseball and golf academy's too!
  • Pleasant Hill, MO-7 South of LS, A gorgeous downtown museum and rail station, a city lake and golf course, plus it's home to the Cass County Fair. Pleasant Hill is worth a day.
  • Warrensburg, US 50 East of LS, The county seat of Johnson County is also home to the main campus of University of Central Missouri, which wonderful to tour. It also houses two public golf courses and is near Knob Noster State Park, Whiteman Air Force Base, and two wineries & .

Further away
  • Fort Osage National Historic Landmark , about 45 minutes away from the city center, A national treasure. This reconstructed outpost from 1803 was hand-selected by William Clark. In Sibley and on the mighty Missouri River.
  • Lexington, a little less than an hour away from the city center. The best to learn about Missouri's impact in the Civil War within an hour's drive is Lexington. You have to visit Battle of Lexington State Historic Site. One of most fascinating of Missouri's state park's. Lexington also has the oldest continually used county courthouse west of the Mississippi. A stray cannonball is still lodged in it from the Civil War.
  • Kearney, about 45 mins away from the city center, The birthplace of America's most famous outlaw Jesse James and Kearney Historic Museum are the big draws here. This picture-perfect small town in Western Missouri is waiting to be explored.
Routes through Lee's Summit
Kansas City ← Independence ←  W  E  → Warrensburg → Jefferson City
Ends at ← Kansas City ←  W  N  → Independence → Ends at
Hutchinson ← Kansas City ←  W  E  → Warrensburg → Jefferson City


This article is issued from Wikivoyage. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.